“And?”
“‘Of course,’ she told me. But sometimes she tells me things I wanna hear instead of the truth.”
Luke ran a hand through his hair, brushing it out of his eyes. “How can anyone stay married to someone like that?”
“I don’t know. He gives men a bad name.”
Luke remembered all the fear Zoe had early in life. How intimidated she was by his dad because of his size and how long it took to warm up to him. Luke had a brief conversation with his father a few months after he and Zoe started dating. From that day forward, his dad put every effort into making sure that Zoe knew she had a family with them.
“If Jo says he isn’t going anywhere, you have nothing to worry about.”
Zoe didn’t look convinced. “If he did get out, he’d come straight there. It isn’t like my mom moved or anything.”
He hated the anxiety in her voice, the tense muscles in her neck as she talked. “What can I do?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. Listen, I guess.”
“I can do that.”
For the first time since they got off the bike, Zoe offered a smile when she looked at him. For a good thirty seconds they stared at each other without words.
“You kissed me,” she said, changing the subject.
“I did.” He knew the grin on his face said he wasn’t sorry. “You kissed me back.”
“I did.” She sighed. “I haven’t decided if that was a mistake.”
“It wasn’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
He took a step closer. “Because you showed up in my garage.”
Zoe tried to blow off her actions. “I needed to talk.”
“Your best friends were right down the street. You chose me.”
Luke was close enough to see her pulse beating from a vein in her neck. He felt like a vampire who needed to touch his teeth to that very spot.
He placed a hand on her waist.
She didn’t back away.
“I don’t want to hurt you again, Luke.”
“I was a boy when you left. I’m a grown man now.”
“I live in Texas. My life is there.”
He nudged her closer with a slight tug of his fingertips.
“I know where you live.”
Zoe looked up at him; the tip of her tongue moistened her bottom lip. The teasing smile she often wore was all but gone.
The moment he felt her hand find his waist, his world came into focus.
“This isn’t smart,” she uttered, her lips reaching toward his.
Luke didn’t confirm nor deny. He simply removed the space between them and gave the woman what she was asking for.
Unlike the hurried kiss in the airport, this one was slow and soft. A homecoming. She tasted like flowers and chocolate and gentle waves upon the shore. Her eyes fluttered closed and he pulled her in tight. Luke stopped thinking about roses and candy and relished the feeling of her in his arms. She was more assured than when they’d been together before, leading the way by opening to him, tasting him.
When she clawed into his back, Luke matched her hunger with his. Their tongues danced, their bodies rubbed in all the right places.
Her lips pulled away, her breath came in short pants. Luke found the spot on her neck he wanted to taste and gave a gentle bite.
“Oh, God.”
When they were kids, he’d back her against one of the trees and make her scream his name. He’d been her first, and that knowledge never left his thoughts. While she wasn’t the first woman he’d had sex with, she was the only woman he made love to. The distinction was a clear line in his memory.
Her hand traced down his hip and rounded over his ass.
The space inside his jeans tightened, his cock asking for attention.
Luke took the liberty of filling his palm with her breast. He felt the hardened bud under her shirt and lowered his lips to the fabric covering her. Even through her clothing, she arched into him, her head tossed back.
He smiled as he turned his attention to the other side.
Zoe stopped his assault and brought his lips back to hers.
Luke backed her against a tree but didn’t attempt to remove her clothes. He just kissed her until her lips were swollen, his hair tangled from her fingers fanning through it.
When she tucked her hand inside his shirt, he broke away. “We aren’t doing this here.”
She clawed his skin. “It didn’t stop you before.”
He smiled, kissed her briefly until she opened her eyes. “We didn’t have a choice then. We do now.”
Zoe rested her head on the bark of the tree and grinned. “We were reckless.”
“Still are.” Lord knew jumping back into this fire was a lot like stepping off a cliff into a dark cavern filled with water. Ultimately, you knew you were safe, but the dark drop always made you believe things would turn for the worst.
Luke liked the way she was staring at him.
“How is it possible you look better now than when we were kids?”
He ran a hand down her hair, tucked a strand behind her ear. “Good genes.”
That had her laughing.
“I shouldn’t be doing this anyway. Mel is going to worry.”
Much as his body protested, he knew this wasn’t something to be rushed. “Damn maturity.”
Zoe laughed again.
“C’mon,” he said, pulling her away from the tree. “Before I change my mind.”
She patted the tree like it was a thick mattress on a bed. “Lots of fond memories in this spot.”
“I can make better ones in a much more comfortable location.”
It was her turn to neither confirm nor deny his suggestion. Instead, she assumed her position behind him on his bike and wrapped her arms around his waist for the drive back to the shop.
Zoe hummed while she waltzed around Miss Gina’s kitchen preparing a feast of finger foods. If anyone went hungry, it would be their own fault.
Miss Gina snuck in and grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’ve gotten laid.”
Zoe hadn’t said a word to anyone about Luke’s sudden need to neck with her whenever he had the chance.
“I just like cooking in your kitchen.”
Miss Gina wasn’t convinced. “Tell that to someone who was born yesterday.”
Just to put her off, Zoe said, “I’m sure Mel’s having sex . . . even Jo had sex. I haven’t in so long I think I’ve forgotten how.”
Miss Gina talked around her apple. “You’re getting something.”
Zoe rolled the last of the shrimp puffs and placed the tray in the top oven. “You’re the one who needs to get some.”
“Who says I haven’t?”
Zoe twisted around and stared. “Who?”
Miss Gina chewed instead of answering.
“You’re full of crap.”
“Am I?” Miss Gina left the kitchen as quickly as she’d entered.
Zoe stared at her retreating back. “No way . . .”
“No way what?” Mel interrupted her thoughts as she walked into the kitchen from the parlor.
“Miss Gina just implied she’s getting some.”
“Some what?” Mel opened the refrigerator and removed a bottle of cold water.
“Sex.”
The screen on the back door slammed shut while Mel twirled around to follow Zoe’s stare.
“No way.”
“Has there been anyone?” Zoe asked.